Sash balance



Dec. 2, 1930. R. LAN ZILLOT'i'A 1,783,573

SASH BALANCE Filed Dec. s1;----'192a s Sheets-Sheet 2' Tia. 6.

TiG-- IN VEN TOR.

' WY 3e @5 A TTORNEYJ Dec. '2, 1930. R. LANZILLOTTA\ 1,783,573

SASH BALANCE Filed Dec. 31, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet s INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 2, 1930 J'U'NITEDVSTATES PATENT; OFFICE- RUDOLPH LANZILLOTTA, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO SASH BALANCE Application filed December 31, 1928. Serial No. 329,493.

This invention relates to sash balances and has special reference to a spring sash balance of the general type shown in my prior Patent No. 1,654,423.

One important object of the invention is to improve the general construction of devices of this character. v

A second important object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of the spring in such a sash balance so I that the spring may be adpusted in tension to suit the weight of the sash to which it is applied.

' A third important object'of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of spring and gearing in such a sash balance so that a considerable movement of the sash will have but little winding or unwinding effect on the s aring so that a long sash movement may be obtained without unduly increasing the length of the spring'used so that the housing for the device may be of reasonably small size even when the sash movement is great.

A fourth important object ofthe invention is to provide an improved latch for the device so that the sash may be positively held'against movement.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings and specifically claimed. i

In the accompanying drawings, like char actors of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and i frame member of one of the sash and showing the sash supported parts of the device, one side of the housing being removed to dlsclose the interior mechanism;

right angles from the frame Figure 6 is a View in section from the opposite side to that shown 111 Figure 5 but also disclosing the window frame and rack;

Figure 7 is an edge view of the sash showing the arrangement of the housing and the gear which engage the rack;

, Figure 8 is a section, partly in elevation, on the'line 8-8 of Figure 5; and

Figure 9-is an elevation showing the button or cover used herein to conceal the winding arbor of the device.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 5 of another form of the invention; v s

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional viewsimilar to Figure 6 5 Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of the disclosures in Figures 10 and 11, showing the pawl and ratchet mechanism mountedwithin a gear of the train;

Figural?) isa side elevational view, partly broken away of the gear of the train that houses the pawl and ratchet mechanism and having the side boxes for retaining them in position; v

t Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on line lat-14 of Figure 13; and

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view showing the horizontally slidable button for exposing and concealingthe winding arbor of the de- V106.

In the embodiment of the invention herein shown there is disclosed a portion 10 of the side of a window frame having the usual ways 11 in which. slide the sash 12. Extending vertically of the window frame in each of these ways is a rack bar 18 of L-shape in cross section and having one leg secured to the frame and the other leg projecting at and provided on its edge with rack teeth 14:.

In' each side member of each sash there is provided a pocket 15 wherein fits a substantially rectangular housing 16 having its front edge portion closed by an extended plate 17 formed to provide a groove 18 which receives the toothed leg of the rack. The sash is grooved at 19 in Fig. 7 above and below this plate for the like purpose as the groove 18. The bottom of the g ooved p rtion of the plate 17 is cut away at 20 to provide an opening through which may project an edge portion of a wheel 21 to engage the rack teeth 1st. This gear is carried on a shaft or arbor 22, the ends of which fit in arcuatc slots 23 in tue sides of the housing 16, thus enabling the gear to be moved into and out of engagement with the rack. Fixed on the arbor 22 a pinion. 22a .vhcrewith meshes a' gear shalt 25. On this shalt is lixed a ratchet 26 engaged by a pawl 27 which is pivoted on the gear Ql. This pawl is held in en agement with the ratchet by a spring 28. tnu'ronnding the arbor and having one end lixed thereto is a spiral spring 29 having its other end iii-ted to the casing or housing 16. At one end (the end facing the inside of the housing) the arbor 25 is provided with a key re ceiving recess or slot 30 so that, by the insertion of a key through an opening 31 in the sash the spring may be wound to the desired tension to support the sash whatever its weight may be. lhe opening 31 communicates with a recess having a liner 32 provided with a slot 33 in which slides a button 31' movable to cover and uncover the key receiving end of the arbor 25. v

A shaft 35 is journa-lled in the sides of the housing 16 and carries a dog 36 engageable with the gear 21 and extending from this shaft is an arm 37 having an end 38 moving in a slot 39 so that the movement of the end moves the dog into and out of engagement with its gear. By this means the gear may be locked from or permitted movement at the will of the user.

As shown in Figure 15, the button B l is slidably retained in the opening 31 by the dove-tailed connection 34a with the side wall of said opening and said button 34; carries a pin l0 attached to the upper end of the arm 37 so that when the button Set is shifted to expose the winding arbor 25, the dog 36 is engaged with the gear wheel 21 permitting winding operation or" the gear mechanism. When the spring 20 has been placed under the desired tension, the button 234iis laterally shifted in slots 31 to cover the exposed end ol" the winding arbor 25 and this movement reverses the position ot the dog 36.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 10 to l l, the pawl and ratciiet mechanism associated with the gear El is housed within the gear to provide greater lateral area in the casing 16 for a wider winding spring 29. The gear 24a has an axial. opening ll therein to receive the ratchet wheel 42, while the ball or axis of the gear 24a is pr vided with an opening 48 communicating with the central opening all tor the reception of the pawl 27a having its substantially circular pivot head 27?) pivotally mounted in a correspondingly formed opening in the gear wheel 24a. T he spring 28a having one end set into the gear 2:1: revolubly mounted on an arbor or- 24a extends into the opening 23 for engaging the pawl 27a to hold the same engaged with the ratchet wheel a2. A ratchet wheel 42, pawl 27a and spring 28a are retained in assembled relation with a car 'ying gear 24a by side washer plates ist, the other mechanism ol" the spring sash balance corresponding to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 9. A device of this construction can be inexpensively manufactured and with the pawl and ratchet mecl'ninism confined within the gear Zeta, greater area is provided within the casing 16 for a larger band spring 29 that may be required tor use in connection with larger and heavier window sashes.

\Vhile there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a spring sash balance, a housing having a slot in one edge, a main spring in said housing, and a multiplying gear train connected to said main spring and including a gear mounted to move to project through the slot and to be retracted from projected position whereby to engage with and disengage from a frame supported rack.

2-. In a spring sash balance, a housing having a slot in one edge portion, a main spring arbor journalled in said housing, a main spring surrounding said arbor and having one end connected thereto and its other end fixed to the housing, a gear revolubly mounted on the arbor, a pawl and ratchet connection between the arbor and gear, said arbor having means for receiving a key, a second arbor mounted in the housing to move toward and from the slotted edge of the housing, a pinion on the second arbor meshing with said gear, and a gear mounted on the second arbor and movable between projected and retracted positions through said slot.

3. In a spring sash balance, a housing having a slot in one edge portion, a main spring arbor journalled in said housing, a main spring surrounding the arbor and having one end connected thereto and its other end fixed to the housing, a. gear revolublv mounted on the arbor, and having an axial opening and a side pocket communicating with the opening, a ratchet wheel. in the axial opening and keyed to the arbor, a tensioned pawl in the gear pocket engaging the ratchet wheel, side plates for retaining the ratchetwheel, pawl and spring within the side faces of the gear,said arbor having means for receiving a key, a second arbor mounted in the housing to move toward and from the slotted edge of the housing, a pinion on the second arbor meshing with said gear and a gear mounted on the second arbor and movconfined within its side Walls, the ratchet Wheel being fixed to the arbor and the pawl carried by the gear, side plates retaining the gear, and pawl and ratchet mechanism assembled, and a gear train extending from said gear.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

RUDOLPH LANZILLOTTA. 

